Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Continuing to snap pictures for my December Daily album has given me some interesting choices for the weekly photo meme Look Up//Look Down. I chose this seasonal pair (looking up at the house across the street and looking down on the lights which have not yet been put up at our house) because I like the contrast in scale and the parallel subject.I'll probably end up including the top photo in my December Daily album on a page about neighborhood decorations. I'll say probably because I'm not 100% sure which photos will go in until I get the photos back from the printers. Because I still send my photos to be printed. Because I don't have a home printer. But I'm thinking about buying one for myself asking Santa for one. So, I'd like input.Do you have a home photo printer to recommend? Any to steer away from? And what ink do you use and what paper to print on? Karen suggested that the paper can make a huge difference. Thanks in advance for your help!

I used to print at home all the time, prior to going fully digi with photobooks. Anyway, I bought a very good Epson printer and the quality was fantastic but you have to use Epson inks (and they are expensive and they are used up very quickly)and it does pay to use good quality paper. For all of that, the print quality through a lab is better and I find online ordering very convenient and, including postage, I think it works out cheaper than printing at home ... depends on how impatient you are I suppose!

I forgot, the printer is the Epson R800 - would be an old model now. I chose it because of many positive reviews it received on photography forums. It is excellent but will not work well if you don't use Epson ink ... I learnt the hard way!

I use a Canon Pixma MP620B - this printer is several years old now and was a Christmas special at Best Buy one year for like $49. It prints anything from 4x6 to 8.5x11. It is also a copier and scanner. I use Canon inks (of course). I like that there are five different cartridges, so I only replace a color when it actually runs out (and this printer works until the little ink tank is actually DRY). I recycle the cartridges at Staples for rewards dollars that I use toward the next ink purchases. I've used whatever paper is on sale (or free) at Staples and have learned that I prefer Canon and Kodak papers. The HP paper is garbage - too thin and prints with ridges on it. I'm very happy with the quality I get from this cheap little printer. I also have the portable Epson PictureMate which only prints on 4x6 but is good for taking to crops and such. Drawback is that you have to buy the Epson ink cartridge and it comes packages with paper (they don't come separately) and the ink runs out before the paper does so I have a LOT of leftover Epson paper too! No problems, I can use it in the Canon. If I had to go out today and buy a new photo printer, I'd be looking at Canon again.

Just perfect photos for this meme! I print at home a lot, especially since starting Project Life. I have an old Canon PIXMA 6600 printer that Tracy gave me for Christmas several years ago. With rare exceptions, the prints are as good or better than anything I get from professional printers. Yes, I do use Canon ink (and it seems to last pretty well), and I use very good paper (Ilford Smooth Pearl) which I buy from Amazon. Sometimes I'll use Canon Glossy or an Epson matte presentation paper as well, but the Ilford is the best. And by far the most pricey part of the process.

Enjoyed catching up with the rest of your posts that I missed while in Chicago. I also use photos and emails from my kids away from home in my Christmas Journal pages.

i have had several photo printers and i totally gave up ... one problem is the photos need to set and i have zero patience so i always smudge them ... second i just like the quality that i get from the processors, i've not found anything else to compare ... so i gave up on photo printers and now have an HP laser printer and just order prints

Great photos! I have an HP all-in-one photo printer & I've been happy with the results, but I am not really picky about my photos. I do think the HP paper & inks work best with it, so I always use those.

The Kodak printers are fabulous and the inks are half the price of any other ones (what to me is the most important). I have a Kodak color printer esp3250 (may be a bit old now) and the quality of the printed photos is really great, x

I like the contrast in the pictures Rinda. As for printing, I have an Epson R1900 (12 inch wide one)and use only the epson inks and papers with it. I also use my husband's HPF4280 which is good enough but I prefer the Epson if it's a special picture.

I love your up/down pair.I have an Epson 700, probably a few years old now but the print quality is fabulous. I use Epson inks which I find last and Epson paper. If you make sure you set the printer to print on the correct paper settings you will be pleased. If I have a December Daily or a photo a day for a month or something like LSNED I will get the pictures printed professionally because it is so much cheaper on ink. My printer has a scanner which I find incredibly useful if I want something to go on the blog and I can't get a good picture with my camera (light issues mostly)

I really like the parallels ( colours) and the contrasts (scale) in your vibrant pairing, Rinda. I have an HP Photosmart and am quite happy with it. It pays to use the HP photo papers to get the best and truest colour.

Maria "Rinda" Ontiveros

Artist & Blogger

2016 Summertime Scavenger Hunt

The List!

1. A "wild heart" - a naturally occurring heart (like the rock above, but it doesn't have to be a rock)2. A footprint or pawprint3. A skeleton, bone or x-ray4. A book or magazine read during 20165. A porch or deck6. A camper (caravan)7. A family gathering8. A drawing, art project, artistic photograph, scrapbook page, greeting card, or art journal page created by you.9. Someone playing with, in, or around water.10. A bicycle11. Fresh produce12. A window13. The moon14. A buffet of food15. A team logo16. A map showing a trip taken during the time period17. Twins18. A supermarket cart, basket or trolley full of groceries 19. A seasonal cocktail or beverage20. Someone laughing21. A photograph of you with a newspaper or calendar page from the time period covered in the Hunt. Note: you may not use a substitute for this item.Alternatives - if you're having trouble finding any of the above, you may substitute from this list (but you may not substitute for item #21):alternative 1: a lighthousealternative 2: a baby (human or animal)